Brief case or the like



0st. 26, 1943. J. ROTH BRIEF cAsEoR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 19, 1940 o vll una? a Patented Oct. 26, '1943v "HED, r`sinrcs ci BRIEF o AsE on THELIK g Jacob-Roth, Brooklyn, l Application January 19, 1940,seria1No. 3143032V 1 claim. (c1. 15o-1.6)

My invention relates to brief cases and: the like and more particularly to such deviceshaving a plurality of compartments or pockets provided with slide fastener elements by which the pockets can be readily' closedfand` opened. f i

A primary object of my invention is to provide a device of the character set forth wherein the compartments are arrangedon opposite sides offa central supporting memberiprovided with la carrying handle so as to permit ready access to the compartments. A further object is to provide such device with means for holding the compartments in open relation lindependently of each other and thereby facilitate access into 'the compartments when open. A further object is to provide such device which will have stability in both closed or open position and which will stand upright when either .empty or full. A further object is to provide such device which will be neat in appearance, simple and sturdy in construction and which may be used for manifold purposes.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention not specifically enumerated I accomplish by providing a brief case or the like having face panels and an intermediatepanel therebetween and a pleated gusset member connected to the side and bottom edges of the panels to provide open-top compartments which at their top are provided with rigid divided frame members and slide fastener means so disposed in cooperative relation that as the slide `fastener means are disengaged to open the compartment they articulate the frame members outwardly tohold the top of the compartment open and as the slide fastener means are interlocked to close the compartment they operate to move the frame merni bers toward each other.v The invention also contemplates the provision of a rigid member attached to the intermediate panel and provided with a handle for supporting and carrying the V device from'place to place. The invention will be better understood from the detailed description which follows when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brief case or the like embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fractional end elevation of the top of the device of Fig. 1 with one of the compartments in open relation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing one of thecompartments in open relation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section through the handle carrying member.

Referringlto the drawing, the'brief *case or the likeconsists of a pair of face panels Ill, an intermediate panelI I 'and a pleated gusset member I2 connected tothe side and bottom edges of the panels lIl] and II by stitching or the like in awell-known manner. The gusset member l2 provides with .the panels Il and Il a pair of compartments which are open at their ,top and which top openings are adapted to be vclosedY by cooperating slide fastener means I3, the top of each compartment being provided with a :pair of such means which are connected to the adjacent faces ofthe panels and to the inner faces of the gusset member adjacent their top. The slide fastener means I3 may be of any approved construction and as is conventional consist of bias-Woven tapes I4 to the edges of which are connected the interlocking teeth I5. Also connected to the adjacent faces of the panels and the inner faces of the gusset member adjacent their top-and preferably disposed between saidV parts and theftapes ofthe slide fasteners are welt members I6 within which are disposed flattened wires II of substantially U-shaped form, a pair of which constitute a frame for the open top of each compartment. The adjacent ends of the U-shaped frame sections are articulated with respect to each other in any suitable manner, such for example by lhaving the welt members I6 projecting beyond the wires I'I and being connected together. The tapes and the welt members of the U-shaped frame sections maybe connected to the panels and to the gusset member in any desired manner, and as herein shown this is accomplished by stitching I8. For operating the slide fasteners they are provided with a customary slider I9 and a slider manipulating element 2 0.

The arrangement of the frame Vsections with respect to the slide fastener elements is such that when the slide fastener elements are interlocked the U-shaped frame sections are disposed in substantially parallel relation with the arms of the U extending downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 1. When the slide fastener elements are disengaged, the frame sections are disposed in substantially a common plane perpendicular'to the panels to which the frame sections are connected, as shown by the rightl hand portion of Fig. 3. When the frame sections are in the position last mentioned it will be appreciated that they operate to hold the panels in spaced apart relation so as to provide easy access to the interior of the compartment,

'Io facilitate securing the slidefastener elements and the frame sections to the intermediate panel they may rst be attached to strips 2l which in turn may be secured as by stitching 22 to the opposite faces of the intermediate panel l l. While this mode of connection serves to reinforce and render more rigid the upper edge of the intermediate panel I l, I nevertheless prefer to further reinforce the topmost portion of this panel as by securing thereto supplemental filler strips 23 of suitable material and thereby provide a rigid anchorage for a channelled reinforcing member 24 which may be secured thereto by rivets or the like 25, said reinforcing member 24 having attached thereto a suitable carrying handle 26, In this manner the gripping of theV carryy ing handle in one hand greatly facilitates the manipulation of either of the slide operating elements 2El` for opening and closing the. compartments.

It will be understood thatthe panelsjand'the gusset member may be formed of any suitable material such as leather, artificial leather, fabric, or the like, and if desired either or both of the compartments may be further subdivided, such for example by a partition sheet 21 in a manner well known in thevart. A device as described in View of the independent character of-thecompartments may be'used for :manifold purposes, for example, one compartment rmay be used for luggage while the other compartment may be used for files or folders whereby the device may serve the dual purpose of an overnight bag and brief case.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be appreciated that I have provided a device'of the character described which fulfills the various objects set forth in the opening statement of this specification, and although I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construe# tion disclosed since these may be varied Within the range of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

A brief case or the like comprising a pair of face panels and an intermediate panel therebetween, said panels being substantially parallelly l disposed, apleated gusset member connected to Y the side and' bottom edges. of each of the panels y to. provide therewith laterally expansible opentop compartments, the characterand disposition of the panels and gussets being such that when supported on the bottom edges of the panels the brief case Will have upright stability when in either closed or open position, eachof saidcompartments having a pair of articulated U-shaped frame sections connected to the panels :and-,to

the gusset memberadjacent their topledges ,andl l adapted upon articulation to move thepanels to which they' are connected laterally toward or away from each other, cooperating Slide fastener Y elements contiguous to and co-extensive with 4the frame sections providing independent rclosure y means for the compartments, means connected to the intermediate panel to render it of increased rigidity across its vtop and a carrying handle. conl n nected to the last mentioned means. v u

JACOB RoirhH.V 

